Retouching device for photographic negatives.



J. R. METTLER & G. M. LAFFOON. RETOUCHING DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC NEGATIVES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-22,1916. 1,232,589.

Patented July 10. 1917.

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ATTOH/V UNETED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

JAMES R. METTLEB AND GILMER M. LAFFOON, 0F DREXEL, MISSOURI.

BETOUCHING DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPI-IIG NEGATIVES.

Application filed August 22, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, James R. Murmur. and GILMnn M. LAFFOON, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Drexel, in the county of Cass and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Retouching Devices for Photographic Negatives; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

The object of our invention is first, to confine the vibrations of the vibrating filament supporting plate within itself, and increase the rapidity of movement of the filament, to obtain a sweeping or brushing movement thereof, as the filament traverses the surface of the print or negative.

Second, to improve the retouching process, so that a uniformity of excellence is obtained in all negatives, which is obtained by the means hereinafter shown and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1. is a view in perspective of the novel negative retoucher, shown in position for use, and the representation of a negative to which it is applied, also showing the battery and binding posts and switch, and the binding posts in the rear end of the core, and the circuit conductors leading from the battery to the binding posts on the hand piece.

Fig. 2. is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of the core, showing the electro-magnet and case extension, the armature and pencil, and the adjustably-controlled device carrying the armature.

Fig. 3. is a detail isometric view of the armature, and supporting means connected with the vibrating armature, as seen in Fig. 2. V

Fig. 4:. is a cross-sectional view of the hand piece, taken on line 00, w, in Fig. 2, showing the core of the electro-magnets.

Fig. 5. is a view, in perspective, of the forward end of the hand piece.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding p rts in all the figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawings, 7 indicates alongitudinal hand piece or case, supporting and inclosing the operative parts, which case is preferably made of hard rubber, n the form of a tube, comparatlvely small in cir- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 10, 1917.

Serial No. 116,267.

cumference at one end 8, and gradually increasing in size in the direction of the other or forward end 9. Said forward end portion of the tube extends forwardly and downwardly a short distance, in a curved line, the extreme lower portion 10 being curved upwardly and united integrally with said upper portion, as seen in Fig. 5. In said forward end of the hand piece is an opening 12, as shown circular in form and of the proper size, for the purpose hereinafter explained. The rear end of the hand piece or case is closed by an end plate 13.

The upper portion of the forward end 9, of the hand piece, above the line of the opening 12, is made solid, as at 1 1, its rear end portion forming a shoulder 15. Through this solid portion 14f, of the forward end of the hand piece, and extendin from the shoulder 15 in a forwardly and downwardlycurved line, is an opening or passage 16, which emerges from the lower surface of said solid portion 14, at a point immediately in rear of the opening 12.

Within the hand piece or case 7 is a magnet 17, composed of a core 18, made from soft iron and extending in the longitudinal direction of said hand piece, from the shoulder 15 to the inner surface of the rear end plate 13. Extending around the core adjacent the shoulder 15 is an insulated circular end plate 19, and at the rear end of the case adjacent the inner surface of the end plate 13 is a like insulated plate 20. Extending around the core 18 is a wire coil. At the rear end of the case 7, one end 21 of the coil extends past the insulated plate 20, within the screw-threaded opening 23, extending from the outer surface of the end plate 13, lnwardly a short distance, and within which opening extends, in contact with the end 21 of the coil, a binding post 24:.

28 indicates a battery, and 29 and 30 the b nd ng posts. 28 is the switch. lVith the binding post 29 is connected one end of a conducting wire 30, the other end of which wire is connected with the binding post 27, at the rear end of hand piece 7, and with the binding post 30 is connected one end of a conducting wire 31, the other end being connected with the binding post 2 1, at the rear end of the hand piece.

The forward end of the soft iron core 18, of the magnet, is extended beyond the insulated plate 15, and deflected in a forwardly and downwardly curved line at 32,

and said extended portion extending within the passage 16, in the solid portion 14, of the forward end of the hand piece, the surface 33, at the end of said portion'32, of

the core, being parallel, with a line passing" axially through the opening 12, on the forward end of the hand piece.

Upon the inner surface of the hand piece, which, as before stated, is of non-conducting material, and with the lower portion of said case, at a point approximately equidistant from the forward and rear end portion of the hand piece, is connected a flat plate 34, a screw 35 passing through the lower portion of the case into said plate. With the upper surface and forward end of plate 34 is rigidly connected the rear end of a narrow, thin spring plate 36, and with the forward end and upper surface of plate 36 is connected the rear end portion of the vibrating armature plate 37, the forward end portion of which plate extends forwardly beneath the lower surface of the curved extension 32, of the core of the magnet, and

. inserted a lead filament 40.

The controller for regulating the vibrations of the armature 37 consists of a short, thin plate 41, secured to the lower surface of the said armature adjacent the forward end of plate 36. The forward end of plate 41 extends forwardly a considerable distance in the direction of the opening 12, in the end of the hand piece, and is provided with a contact piece 42, at its forward end.

Beneath the plate 41 is a like plate 43, secured at its rear end portion within a notch 43*, on the inner surface of the case 7, by the screw 41. The forward end of plate 43 is provided with a contact piece 45, which comes into contact with the contact piece 42, on the plate 41 above. The other end of the wire composing the coil at the other end of the core 18, which is upon the outside of-the coil windings extends past the vibrating armature plate 37, and is connected with the rear end portion of said plate 43, which latter plate acts to make and break contact with the plate 41.

46 indicates the adjusting screw, which extends through a screw-threaded opening 46*, in the case, and bears upon the lower surface of plate 43. This screw is provided with a milled head, for convenience of adjustment. A conducting wire 47 extends from the screw-threaded opening 26, for the binding post 27, through the end plate 13, of case 7, along the lnnen surface of said case, beneath and in electrical contact with the rear end portion of the plate 34.

In operation the hand piece or case 7 is grasped by the hand, and the switch 28 moved to communicate the electric energy of the battery to the magnet 17, which passes through the conducting wires 29 and 30, and hence a return circuit through wire 47 operates with the plates 41 and 43 to make and break the circuit, the ends of the plates being normally in contact, hence the vibration of the armature plate 37 is of great rapidity. By adjusting the screw 46, these plates are brought closer together, and hence the vibrations of the armature plate 37 are faster.

The pencil 40 being applied to the negative, the rapid Vibration of the armature plate 37 produces stipples automatically upon the negative, in a perfect succession, as the lead filament moves over the surface of the negative, and as the filament is caused to hear more heavily on the surface the stipplesbecome darker,'the positionof the lead filament being adapted to produce a sweeping or brushing effect while changes are being made in the direction of movement of the hand piece 7. The instrument may be used to produce lines parallel with each other, or curved, so that the strokes in modeling shadows are improved. I V r The implement in the hands of a skilled artist shortens the time forexecuting the work, and the character of the work is im- 7 proved. The invention eliminates the difficult wrist and finger movement of the old methods of retouching and enables the art to be more readily acquired by the inexperienced.

The form of'hand piece as shown may be varied, with varied applications of power, and such modifications employed as are within the scope of the appended claims.

I Having fully described our invention, what we now claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPa-tentis: V r

1. In a vibratory implement holder, the combination with a hand piece having an opening at its forward end, and a vibrating plate therein, a tool holder upon said plate, and a device for imparting a rapid vibrating movement to the vibrating plate and extending within the forward end of the hand-piece and deflected toward the axial line of the opening in said end and co-acting with the said vibrating plate.

2. In devices for communicating power electrically to implement holders, a hand piece having an opening at its forward end, a spring plate connected with the hand piece at its inner end, and an armature plate connected with the forward end of said spring plate, an electrically energized magnet coil extending parallel with the armature plate, and a core to said magnet having a forwardly-extended portion deflected downwardly toward the armature plate.

3. In a vibrating implement holder, the combination with a hand piece having a forward enlarged end portion, of insulating material, said forward end having an opening below the longitudinal axis of the case, and also having an opening extending forwardly and downwardly in rear of the former opening, an electrically energized magnet coil within the case, and a core to said magnet, said core having a forward extension extending within the deflected opening in the forward end of said hand piece, a spring plate connected with the hand piece, and an armature plate connected with the spring plate, and an implement holder connected with the armature plate.

4. In a vibrating implement holder, the combination with a hollow hand piece or case having an opening at its forward end, an electrically energized magnet coil within the said case, and a core having an extended portion extending within the forward end of said case and deflected forwardly and downwardly to a position in rear of said opening in the forward end of the case, and a spring plate connected at its inner end with the hand piece, and an armature plate connected with its forward end, and below the extended portion of said core of the magnet, and separate make and break contact plates, one of which is carried by the armature plate, and the other connected with the hand piece and electrically connected with the coil of the magnet, an adjusting screw for said make and break plates, and a tool holder connected with the armature plate.

JAMES R. METTLER. GILMER M. LAFFOON. lVitnesses:

HENRY T. BUNDY, THOMAS C. BUNDY.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

